The Power of 'We,' Remembered
Reflections on McCauley’s Consequential Leadership
Sharon Pappas, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Chief Nurse Executive, Emory Healthcare
Almost nine years ago, as I was preparing to begin service as Emory Healthcare’s Chief Nurse Executive, Dean McCauley invited me to attend a Dean and Chief Nurse Executives Meeting hosted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. And so, it began — a partnership and friendship that has made these years some of the best of my professional life.
Over the years, I’ve seen Linda’s passion for our profession and vision for its future. Her mother was a nurse, so her love of nursing was established early — reinforced by her love of humanity and patients. Her mission is to serve, and you can see this in her leadership and research. I hear it as she talks about her children and grandchildren, making sure the future of health care and nursing is good for them. My daughter is one of Linda’s graduates, and it was a precious time when we gave her a diploma at graduation.
Linda’s influence is broad. She sponsored my appointment to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Committee on Clinician Well-being — a treasured assignment for me. We released our publication in 2019, and I took that knowledge to Emory Healthcare as we cared for patients and clinicians during and after COVID-19.
One of my favorite memories was when the NAM committee presented its findings to the public. Afterwards, Linda came up to me and said, “Great job; Emory is proud of you. Do you want some fried chicken?” We went to lunch and began planning our next adventure.
Linda and I spent many hours talking about Emory Nursing, and you can see our fingerprints on many things, including the InEmory program, the Emory Nursing Learning Center, and the school’s national rankings and Emory Healthcare’s eight Magnet designations.
Recently, we were at a restaurant we often visited, discussing how to continually improve our work. The manager came by and congratulated us — it was our 25th dinner there.
I have thought about what that meant, and here is my conclusion: Leadership is about relationships, relationships build trust, and most importantly, humanity is served best when individuals convene around a common purpose with passion and love. I thank God for these years with Linda as my partner and look forward to future adventures.
Deborah Watkins Bruner, RN, PhD, FAAN
Senior Vice President for Research, Emory University
Dean Linda McCauley’s facilitation of research in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is well known. For over 15 years, she has hired faculty with exemplary research and scholarship and fostered research by investing in faculty incentives and support.
This has led to one of the most extraordinary rises among peer universities in National Institutes of Health funding and rankings. In 2010, the school ranked 38th in NIH awards, with under $2 million. Today, the school ranks third, with over $18 million in funding — marking a decade of sustained excellence among the top five U.S. nursing schools.
Dean McCauley’s appreciation for nursing research extends from her pioneering work in environmental health issues such as pesticide exposure and heat-related risks for vulnerable populations, including farmworkers. Her team also advanced the science by demonstrating the potential for field-based, heat-exposure biomonitoring.
In occupational health, Dean McCauley’s work has advanced knowledge on the effects of workplace chemicals and stressors on physical and mental well-being. Her research has informed best practices and policy changes to improve occupational health standards nationwide, and her advocacy has brought these issues to the public eye through interviews in national media outlets.
Since 1985, she has maintained continuous research funding totaling more than $58 million, authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, and mentored 19 doctoral researchers. She has been honored with over 20 awards and appointments to the American Academy of Nursing and National Academy of Medicine, reflecting her expertise and commitment to advancing health care. Through her work with the academies, she has contributed to policy discussions and initiatives that shape national health priorities.
In all her work, she remains an influential voice in improving health outcomes through environmental awareness and nursing excellence.
Carlos del Rio, MD, MACP, FIDSA
H. Cliff Sauls Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Chair, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
I have known Linda McCauley since she came to Emory as dean of the School of Nursing in 2009. Linda has been a transformational leader who has always sought ways to partner across the Woodruff Health Sciences Center to make us all better. She is nationally and internationally known as a nursing education leader and a researcher studying the impact of environmental exposures and health hazards on vulnerable populations.
Linda is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and an active participant in academy activities. She co-chaired the report Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care, and she is a member of the NAM Governing Council. I have seen her function during council discussions, and she is an excellent listener and a consensus builder. Her unique style of leadership, I am sure, is one of the reasons why the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is now ranked as the top school of nursing in the country. We will miss you, Linda!
The Dean’s Advisory Board
Throughout her tenure, Dean McCauley led the school through an era of remarkable achievement. But what sets Dean McCauley apart is her ability to inspire transformation. She encouraged all who worked with her to think boldly, take risks, and achieve more than they imagined possible. She sought perspectives from across the nursing and health care community, always striving to make thoughtful and informed decisions. Her keen eye for opportunities, relentless pursuit of innovation, and unwavering passion for nursing have left an indelible mark on the school and the profession.
Dean’s Advisory Board members William Sage, Mary McCabe, and Jim Wetrich with his wife, Nancy, at the Emory Nursing Learning Center opening celebration. Photo: Jack Kearse/Emory Health Sciences Photography
Dean’s Advisory Board members William Sage, Mary McCabe, and Jim Wetrich with his wife, Nancy, at the Emory Nursing Learning Center opening celebration. Photo: Jack Kearse/Emory Health Sciences Photography
Serving on the Dean’s Advisory Board has been a privilege. Dean McCauley invited us into her creative process, often using us as a sounding board for her boldest ideas. She created an environment where collaboration flourished and each member felt valued for their contributions. Many of us have served on advisory boards before, but rarely have we encountered one where meetings were so energizing, joyful and impactful.
As alumni, colleagues and friends of the school, we are deeply grateful for the legacy she leaves behind. Our work together gave us a front-row seat to the school’s rise to national prominence, fueled by her vision, advocacy of faculty excellence, and unwavering support of innovation. Her bold vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and steadfast commitment to mission and values will continue to shape the school and the nursing profession for generations.
Dean McCauley has truly been the premier dean of the nation’s premier nursing school. It has been our honor to serve alongside her, witness her leadership, and celebrate the lasting impact of her work.
With admiration and gratitude,
Dean’s Advisory Board
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
John Coffin, MBA
Kathy Driscoll, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CCM
Eddie Gammill 01BSN 05MSN PhD
Sally Hale 80MN
Connie Hampton, DNP
Zoher Kapasi 06EMBA, PhD, PT, FAPTA
Nancy Langston 72MN, PhD, RN, FAAN
Marilyn Margolis 89MN, RN, NEA-BC
David Martin, RN
Mary McCabe 72BSN, RN, MA
Tim Porter O’Grady, DM, EdD, ScD(h), APRN, FAAN, FACCWS
Sharon Pappas, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
William Sage, MD, JD
Susan Shapiro, PhD, RN, FAAN
Charlotte Weaver, PhD, RN
Jim Wetrich 09EMBA, MHA, LFACHE, PCC
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